-
-
After
the Disaster: A Children’s Mental Health Checklist
- Disaster
Resource List
Disasters can be particularly
traumatic to children. Sometimes, it can be difficult to determine the extent
of the psychological trauma, and whether or not professional mental health
services are indicated. This checklist is one way to assess a child’s mental
health status.
Add up the pluses
and minuses to obtain a final score. If the child scores more than 35,
it is suggested you seek a mental health consultation.
- Has the child had
more than one major stress within a year BEFORE this disaster, such
as a death in the family, a molestation, a major physical illness or
divorce? If yes: +5
- Does the child
have a network of supportive, caring persons who continue to relate
to him daily? If yes: -10
- Has the child had
to move out of his house because of the disaster? If yes: +5
- Was there reliable
housing within one week of the earthquake with resumption of the usual
household members living together? If yes: -10
- Is the child showing
severe disobedience or delinquency? If yes: +5
Is the
child showing any of the following as NEW behaviors for more than
three weeks after the disaster?
- Nightly states
of terror? +5
- Waking from dreams
confused or in a sweat? +5
- Difficulty concentrating?
+5
- Extreme irritability?
+5
- Loss of previous
achievements in toilet or speech? +5
- Onset of stuttering
or lisping? +5
- Persistent severe
anxiety or phobias? +5
- Obstinacy? +5
- New or exaggerated
fears? +5
- Rituals or compulsions?
+5
- Severe clinging
to adults? +5
- Inability to fall
asleep or stay asleep? +5
- Startling at any
reminder of the disaster? +5
- Loss of ambition
for the future? +5
- Loss of pleasure
in usual activities? +5
- Loss of curiosity?
+5
- Persistent sadness
or crying? +5
- Persistent headaches
or stomach aches? +5
- Hypochondria? +5
- Has anyone in the
child’s immediate family been killed or severely injured in the disaster
(including severe injury to the child)? +15
Note: Preoccupation
with death, unusual accident proneness or suicidal threats are reasons
for immediate consultations. It is also recommended that any child who
has been seriously injured or who has lost a parent, sibling or caregiver
by death, have a psychological evaluation and/or brief therapy.
|